30 April 2013
RIYADH -- The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) hosted a workshop on Sunday, inviting investors from Switzerland, under the banner of sustainable water management.
The event was attended by the National Water Company (NWC), the Royal Authority of Al-Jubail and Yanbu (RAJY) and the General Establishment for Water Desalination (GEWA) and comes in lieu of a Swiss delegation visit that is reportedly interested in investment in the Saudi market.
"There are great opportunities for investment," said Abdullatif Al-Othman, Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors at SAGIA. Al-Othman ensured attendees of SAGIA's cooperation in facilitating the necessary services and licenses to potential investors.
He also expressed his interest in small and medium sized companies, which more often than not form the economic backbone of the private sector.
"Most of the large companies are represented," he said. "The challenge has always been in attracting small to medium sized businesses."
"We hope that the larger Swiss companies will draw in the smaller ones."
The purpose of this workshop fell largely on establishing a sustainable investment climate in the water industry in the Kingdom, SAGIA reported.
Representatives from each of the attending establishment gave presentations that enforced the potential for investment in the Kingdom, along with a presentation from the Swiss delegation highlighting their interest in the region, along with a rundown of their business structure and the opportunities for partnerships with Saudi-based entities in the public and private sectors.
The National Water Company (NWC) gave a presentation that emphasized the current climate of demand for water and wastewater solutions in upcoming economic cities, such as Knowledge Economic City in Madinah, and industrial establishments, such as Ma'adin.
"The National Water Company has grown year on year from strength to strength," said Rashid Al-Jalajil, a representative of NWC.
"It has gone through extensive transformation, building up the skill sets and experiences that will allow us to reshape the water and wastewater sector in Saudi Arabia."
"This has been realized throughout the years through the innovative solutions to the existing problems in the water and wastewater sector, creating the right partnerships along the way."
Among the most important innovations in wastewater management, said Nasser Al-Amri of NWC, is in Treated Sludge Effluent (TSE). Al-Amri said the demand for TSE is in the treatment of 3.5 million cubic meters per day.
"We have signed 26 agreements, representing more than one million cubic meters daily," he said. NWC projected SR31 million in TSE revenue by 2014, soaring to SR873 million by 2033.
In total, the investment in the water and wastewater industries in the Kingdom is estimated to generate SR78 billion between 2013 and 2017.
RIYADH -- The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) hosted a workshop on Sunday, inviting investors from Switzerland, under the banner of sustainable water management.
The event was attended by the National Water Company (NWC), the Royal Authority of Al-Jubail and Yanbu (RAJY) and the General Establishment for Water Desalination (GEWA) and comes in lieu of a Swiss delegation visit that is reportedly interested in investment in the Saudi market.
"There are great opportunities for investment," said Abdullatif Al-Othman, Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors at SAGIA. Al-Othman ensured attendees of SAGIA's cooperation in facilitating the necessary services and licenses to potential investors.
He also expressed his interest in small and medium sized companies, which more often than not form the economic backbone of the private sector.
"Most of the large companies are represented," he said. "The challenge has always been in attracting small to medium sized businesses."
"We hope that the larger Swiss companies will draw in the smaller ones."
The purpose of this workshop fell largely on establishing a sustainable investment climate in the water industry in the Kingdom, SAGIA reported.
Representatives from each of the attending establishment gave presentations that enforced the potential for investment in the Kingdom, along with a presentation from the Swiss delegation highlighting their interest in the region, along with a rundown of their business structure and the opportunities for partnerships with Saudi-based entities in the public and private sectors.
The National Water Company (NWC) gave a presentation that emphasized the current climate of demand for water and wastewater solutions in upcoming economic cities, such as Knowledge Economic City in Madinah, and industrial establishments, such as Ma'adin.
"The National Water Company has grown year on year from strength to strength," said Rashid Al-Jalajil, a representative of NWC.
"It has gone through extensive transformation, building up the skill sets and experiences that will allow us to reshape the water and wastewater sector in Saudi Arabia."
"This has been realized throughout the years through the innovative solutions to the existing problems in the water and wastewater sector, creating the right partnerships along the way."
Among the most important innovations in wastewater management, said Nasser Al-Amri of NWC, is in Treated Sludge Effluent (TSE). Al-Amri said the demand for TSE is in the treatment of 3.5 million cubic meters per day.
"We have signed 26 agreements, representing more than one million cubic meters daily," he said. NWC projected SR31 million in TSE revenue by 2014, soaring to SR873 million by 2033.
In total, the investment in the water and wastewater industries in the Kingdom is estimated to generate SR78 billion between 2013 and 2017.
The Saudi Gazette 2013
